Photos: Vladimir Putin takes his oath of office

AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ KREMLIN POOL05.06.2012

Russia's president-elect Vladimir Putin takes his oath of office in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012. Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.

AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ KREMLIN POOL

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) applauds to Russia's president-elect Vladimir Putin (front L) walking to take his oath of office in Andreyevsky (St.Andrew's ) Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012. Show also are: Russian Orthodox Church head, Patriarch Kirill (back L), the widow of first Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Naina (back 2nd L), the Head of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov (2nd R). Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ KREMLIN POOL

Police officers carry a man, who was detained at the Manezhnaya Square just outside Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012. Moscow police said today they had arrested 120 people, including opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, during an unsanctioned rally against newly-elected President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin inauguration.AFP PHOTO/ STRSTR/AFP/GettyImages

Russia's president-elect Vladimir Putin (C) walks to take his oath of office in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012. Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ KREMLIN POOL/ YEKATERINA SHTUKINA

An officer of OMON, riot police, (2nd R) chases an anti-Putin protester (R) at the Tverskoi Boulevard in central Moscow, on May 7, 2012. Moscow police said today they had arrested 120 people, including opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, during an unsanctioned rally against newly-elected President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin inauguration.AFP PHOTO / ANDREY SMIRNOV

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) applauds to his predecessor Dmitry Medvedev (L) during Putin's inauguration ceremony in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012. Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ KREMLIN POOL/ DMITRY ASTAKHOV

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) enters Andreyevsky (St.Andrew's ) Hall at the Great Kremlin Palace in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012, during his inauguration ceremony. Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ ALEXEY DRUZHININ

A screen shot made on May 7, 2012 from the Twitter page of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, where he thanks "everyone for their support over the past four years as President of Russia". Russia's newly sworn-in President Vladimir Putin today proposed his Kremlin predecessor Dmitry Medvedev as the country's new prime minister under a job swap agreement first announced last year.AFP PHOTO / TWITTER

Former Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and his successor Vladimir Putin walk downstairs at the Ivanovskaya Square in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012, during Putin's inauguration ceremony. Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ KREMLIN POOL

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila attend a service at Blagoveshchensky (the Annunciation) cathedral in Moscow s Kremlin, on May 7, 2012, after Putin's inauguration ceremony. Putin took his oath of office today to become Russia's president for a historic third mandate at a glittering ceremony inside the Kremlin.AFP PHOTO/ RIA-NOVOSTI/ ALEXEY DRUZHININ

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) and Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov attend a ceremony to inaugurate Vladimir Putin as Russia's new President at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin appealed for unity in Russia after being sworn as president on Monday and pledged to strengthen democracy in his new six-year term.REUTERS/Vladimir Rodionov

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) and Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov attend a ceremony to inaugurate Vladimir Putin as Russia's new President at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin appealed for unity in Russia after being sworn as president on Monday and pledged to strengthen democracy in his new six-year term.REUTERS/Vladimir Rodionov

Russia's current President Dmitry Medvedev walks to attend a ceremony to inaugurate Vladimir Putin as new President at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin will be sworn in as Russia's president at a glittering ceremony on Monday, hours after clashes between police and protesters laid bare the deep divisions over his return to the Kremlin for six more years.REUTERS/Yana Lapikova

Members from Russia's Interior Ministry detain an opposition supporter during an unsanctioned protest in Moscow May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin will be sworn in as Russia's president at a glittering ceremony on Monday, hours after clashes between police and protesters laid bare the deep divisions over his return to the Kremlin for six more years.REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov

New Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and former President Dmitry Medvedev walk after an inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin appealed for unity in Russia after being sworn as president on Monday and pledged to strengthen democracy in his new six-year term.REUTERS/Dmitry Astakhov

Vladimir Putin walks as he attends the inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 7, 2012. Putin was sworn in as Russia's president in a glittering Kremlin ceremony on Monday, starting a six-year term in which he faces growing dissent, economic problems and bitter political rivalries.REUTERS/Vladimir Rodionov

Riot police chase opposition supporters during an unsanctioned protest in Moscow May 7, 2012. Vladimir Putin appealed for unity in Russia after being sworn as president on Monday and pledged to strengthen democracy in his new six-year term.REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov